The DrosophilaDopamine 2-like receptor D2R(Dop2R) is required in the Blood Brain Barrier for male courtship

Abstract

AbstractThe blood brain barrier (BBB) has the essential function to protect the brain from potentially hazardous molecules while also enabling controlled selective uptake. How these processes and signaling inside BBB cells control neuronal function is an intense area of interest. Signaling in the adultDrosophilaBBB is required for normal male courtship behavior and relies on male-specific molecules in the BBB. Here we show that the dopamine receptorD2Ris expressed in the BBB and is required in mature males for normal mating behavior. Conditional adult male knockdown ofD2Rin BBB cells causes courtship defects. The courtship defects observed in geneticD2Rmutants can be rescued by expression of normalD2Rspecifically in the BBB of adult males.DrosophilaBBB cells are glial cells. Our findings thus identify a specific glial function for theDR2receptor and dopamine signaling in the regulation of a complex behavior.